A high-speed chase involving multiple law enforcement agencies ended with a motorist being transported to a hospital in San Antonio, according to Bandera County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Matt King.
At approximately 12:30 am, Saturday, April 23, BCSO Sgt. Gerald “Jerry” Johnson met with a deputy with the Kendall County Sheriff’s Office on Highway 46. Both law enforcement officers observed a dark-colored pickup truck traveling at a high rate of speed on Highway 46, going toward Bandera County. Johnson immediately activated his emergency lights and attempted to make a traffic stop due to the speed and the erratic nature of the driving. The deputy from Kendall County served as Johnson’s backup. The motorist refused to stop and Johnson watched as the pickup truck passed vehicles while forcing others off the roadway. He estimated the vehicle was traveling in excess of 80 miles per hour at this point.
After making a right onto Highway 16 North, the unidentified 34-year-old driver of the truck turned into the parking lot of the E-Z Mart in Pipe Creek. Almost immediately, he reentered Highway 16, this time driving south.
After reaching the intersection of Highways 16 and 46, the driver executed another U-turn and retraced his route, heading toward Pipe Creek for a second time. At this point, a helicopter with the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) joined the pursuit in the sky as did troopers in patrol vehicles.
The driver turned left onto FM 1283, but in the vicinity of the station house of the Pipe Creek Volunteer Fire Department executed yet another U-turn and headed back to Highway 16 South. He eventually turned left on Highway 46 toward Kendall County.
“Kendall County deputies laid down two sets of road spikes, but they failed to stop the vehicle,” King said.
When the driver reached the juncture of Highway 46 and Interstate 10, he drove down the frontage road toward San Antonio. At this point, according to King, the driver lost control of the pickup truck and crashed into a bar ditch. By this time, Bexar County deputies and officers with the City of Boerne Police Department had joined the fray
Law enforcement surrounded the disabled vehicle and ordered the suspect out of the truck. However, the man apparently pointed a black handgun, later identified as a “9mm Springfield,” at his head and threatened to commit suicide. The standoff lasted two hours.
After protracted negotiations, the suspect relinquished his weapon. Johnson arrested the suspect and transported him to the Bandera County Jail, according to Kendall County Deputy Neil Quick. Eventually the man was transported to CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Hospital-Westover Hills in San Antonio for observation and evaluation, King said.
According to King, the law enforcement report filed by Johnson indicated the suspect had “smelled heavily of intoxicants.” Additionally, a subsequent investigation revealed that, prior to the melee, the man had been involved in a verbal dispute with his wife at the couple’s residence in Kendall County.
Although he remains hospitalized, the suspect will face several “at large” charges after his release, including a felony third DWI, felony evading arrest with a vehicle, unlawful carrying of a firearm and driving with a suspended license, King noted.